Driving mechanism for textile machines



May 18, 1954 G- H. BROWNE DRIVING MECHANISM FOR TEXTILEMACHINES Filed April 5, 1951 2 Sheets-Shet 1 mm a NM R Brow/24g 2 L211 ATTOR-NEYS.

y 18, 1954 G. H. BROWNE 2,678,485

DRIVING MECHANISM FOR TEXTILE MACHINES Filed April 3, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheef 2 INVENTOR: 5%]?7115/010134 BY all a! A TTORNEYS.

Patented May 18, 1954 UNITED OFFICE DRIVING MECHANISM FOR TEXTILE MACHINES Application Aprilt, 1951, Serial No. 219,02?

6 Claims.

This invention relates to driving mechanism for'textile machines; such as slashers or warpers, the same being an improvement upon a generally similar construction disclosed. in U. S. Patent No. 2,142,544, granted to Ernest K. Whitener and Thomas F. Suggs on January 3, 1939. This invention is also an improvement upon the apparatus represented in the copending application of Price E. Sherrill, Jr., and Godfrey I-I. Browne,

Ser. No. 204,116, filed January 3, 1951, of which this application is a continuation-impart.

In the foregoing co-pending application, spring means are employed for regulating the degree of friction between the plates of the friction clutch which constitutes one element of the textile machine drive mechanism. While such construction is advantageous and has proved com.- mercially successful, it has been. observed that as the friction plates wear and become thinner, the spring pressure urging them together has a tendency to decrease, thus producing a corresponding decrease in tension on the yarn. Therefore the tendency of the plates to wear requires periodic resetting of spring tension. Moreover it is frequently desired to run yarns of different types through a slasher or warper from time to time, with application of different degrees of tension to the different yarns. Prior to this invention there has been no adequate means provided to reestablish with accuracy a degree of tension previously used, after the tension applied to the yarn had been altered in order to process a yarn of different type.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide drive means for a textile machine including control apparatus for maintaining substantially uniform tension on the yarn handled by the machine, independently of the wear of the elements of the drive mechanism. It is another object of the invention. to provide friction clutch control means which may be regulated to reestablish with accuracy the degree of tension applied to the yarn in a previous run.

It is conventional, as indicated in the aforementioned co-pending application, Ser. 204,116, to provide a toothed clutch on the beam spindleserving to disengage the beam from the drive in order to relieve the tension on the warps preparatory to cutting the yarn and removing a full beam. It is another object of the inventlon to provide apparatus eliminating such toothed clutch from the mechanism driving the beam without sacrificing convenience or speed in disengaging a full beam, installing an empty beam; or rotating the newly installed empty beam to provide the initial wrap of yarn on the beam barrel preparatory to winding. Other objects and advantages of the invention, including the simplicity and economy of the same, and the ease with which it may be applied as an attachment to existing textile machines, will appear in further detail hereinafter.

In summary, the foregoing and other advantages are attained by the combination, with a textile machine driving mechanism, of pneumatic means effective against the friction plates of the clutch element to hold the plates in yielding contact, together with means for energizing and deenergizing such pneumatic means.

Of the drawings:

Fig. l is a fragmentary diagrammatic plan view of a slasher embodying the drive mechanism which constitutes one embodiment of this invention, and

Fig. 2 is anenlarged fragmentary view, with parts shown in section, of the friction control apparatus of the driving mechanism, taken as indicated by the lines and arrows 11-11 which appear in Fig. 1.

With more specific reference to these illustrations, l designates a reversible electric motor which, through belting 2, constantly drives a transverse jack shaft 3 suitably journalled in the side frames 4 of the slasher. In accordance with my invention, rotary motion is constantly communicated from the shaft 3 by means of a sprocket chain 5, to a sprocket 6 keyed to head plate l of the friction clutch iii. Said head plate I I has a bushing l permitting it to revolve freely on the shaft 8 which constitutes the output shaft of friction clutch iii and the input shaft of a variable speed device 9.

As shown, the clutch it is of a well known type comprising a head plate ii, a mating head plate l2 which is axially slidable on the reduced end of a collar it connected by key to; to the shaft 8, and a plurality of interposed. friction disks it which surround the main or large diameter portion of said collar is. The alternate l 'la of the group N are held against independent rotation relative to the plates I l and I2 by virtue of passage through them, adjacent their peripheries, of guide studs it which are anchored in plate H and which project laterally from the plate H. The intermediate disks Hlb of the group M3, on the other hand, are held against independent rotation relative to the collar it through engagement of key lugs thereon with a slot [to in said collar. The :air cylinder ll Working through rod lid and yoke it applies pressure to the thrust collar l6 which through the inner race of a ball bearing (not shown) urges the plate l2 yieldingly toward the plate ii to maintain the disks Ma, Mb in yielding frictional contact with one another and with said plates. Ihe thrust collar [6 is prevented from rotating by means of a stud 10 inserted through a hole in the bearing housing II. The force of the air cylinder ll is adjustable by means of a pressure regulating valve 26 which receives air under pressure from a source, not shown, through pipe 59. 2i is an air pressure gauge, which may conveniently, if desired, be graduated in pounds of tension, 66 is a four way valve for selectively introducing air through a line 61 to one side of air cylinder l'l' or through a line 58 to the other side of the air cylinder. For convenience, heads ll, l2 and the disks I icmay be referred to as constituting the constant side of the clutch, and the shaft 8, collar 13 and the disks l ib as the slip side of said clutch.

The shaft 29 of the beam 2| (Fig. 1) upon which the warps W are collected, is connected through a chain 22 to the output shaft 23'of the variable speed unit a.

The means for governing the effective speed ratio of the variable speed device 9 includes a differential gear unit whereof one side, i. e., the shaft 33, is driven through sprocket chains 32 and 33 from the input shaft 8 of said variable speed device 9 while the regulating shaft 35 of said variable speed device 9 is actuated by a sprocket chain 36 from the other side, i. e., the shaft 37 of said differential gearunit.

Rotatively free on the shaft 3"! and secured to the bevel pinion 38 of the differential gear unit 39 is a spur wheel 39 which meshes with a mating spur wheel it on a countershaft 4i. By means of a chain 82, a sprocket pinion 43 afiixed to the shaft li is connected to a sprocket pinion 45 on a sleeve 45a free on still another transverse shaft 46 which is rotatively supported in a fixed bearing ll and driven through a chain 38 from the powered jack shaft 3. The sleeve of sprocket pinion A5 is provided at opposite ends with teeth for selective engagement respectively with the corresponding teeth of collar 49 on shaft 46, or with corresponding teeth on the fixed bearing il. The purpose of the arrangement will be presently disclosed. The speed indicator shown at 56 in Fig. 1 is driven through a chain connection from jack shaft 3.

The main roll 52 of the group 53, by which the warps W are calendered enroute to the beam 2i, is positively driven from the jack shaft 3 by means of the intermeshing spur gears indicated at 55, 55. Here, as in patent application No. 204,116 hereinbefore referred to, a second variable speed device 56 is embodied in the slasher. The input shaft 5? of said variable speed device 56 is driven, through a sprocket chain 56, from the jackshaft 3, and the output shaft 59 connected by a sprocket chain 60 to a transverse shaft 6i, which through other sprocket chains 62. and 63 drives other parts of the machine (not shown). 1

Operation To install an empty beam 2! into the machine, preparatory to winding the warp W thereon, air is introduced through line 61 into the front of the air cylinder i l, permitting the plates Ida, Mb of the friction clutch Ill to separate and thus permitting'the beam 2| to be freely rotated for the initial wrap of warp yarn W require for grip for the subsequent winding. The four way valve warp tension.

The slasher may now be started by energizing the motor I, the main calender roll 52 being driven at substantially constant speed by direct gearing and warp beam 2| being driven at variable speed corresponding to the speed of rotation of shaft 23. As the diameter of the warp accumulation on the beam-2l increases during operation of the slasher, the ratio between the speeds of the pewer shafts 35, 4| of the differential unit 38 will gradually change, the speed of countershaft M being substantially constant and the speed of shaft 3i varying with the speed of output shaft 8 of friction clutch Hi. This causes counterclockwise rotation of the shaft 31 of said differ- .ential unit 3i], with attendant adjustment,

through the chain '36, of the regulating shaft 35 of the variable speed device 9'. As a consequence, the speed of the output shaft 23- of the variable speed device 9 will be progressively decreased as will also that of the beam H by reason of the chain" connection 22. This gradual speed reduction is occasioned through slippage of the clutch ill since there is a tendency of the'warps to'accelerate in linear speed due to the diametral growth of the warp accumulation on the beam 2|. Accordingly the rotative speed of the beam is accurately coordinated with the buildup of the winding, so that a uniform tension is maintained on the warps throughout the processing period withpreassurance of an even density of the latter and attainmentof uniform cloth sub sequently woven from the warps.

If desired or deemed necessary during the operation of the slasher, the difierential unit 30 may be re-set simply by temporarily unclutching the sprocket pinion 45 from the collar 49 on shaft 46 and clutching it to the stationary hearing 41; Under these conditions the bevel gear pinion 38 of the differential unit 30 will be held from rotating, and the regulating shaft 35 of the variable speed device 9 will be turned re versely through induced movement of shaft 37 of said unit. The same procedure is resorted to in resetting the variable speed device 30 after each run of the slasher.

After the beam is filled, or whenever it is desired to doff a beam, air is again introduced through line 6'! into the front of the air cylinder I! thus separating the plates Ma, Mb of the clutch Ill, relieving the tension of the warps W between the calender rolls 5s and beam 2!, permitting the cutting of the warps preparatory to dofling without danger of tangling. When the next beam is started and the air is introduced into'the back of the cylinder, the tension, controlled by the air pressure, will automatically return to the previous set value. Any wear in the plates of the slip friction clutch will be automatically adjusted for by a compensating movement of the piston of the air cylinder; the air pressures, as determined by the pressure regulating valve 28, remaining constant with a resulting constant unit pressure between the plates I 4', Ma of the slip friction clutch l9.

' It will be appreciated that equivalent yieldable the illustrated features in accordance with the invention. It will also be appreciated that parts may be reversed. and certain features of the invention may be used independently of the use of other features, all within the spirit and scope of l the invention.

Having thus described my invention l clairr:

1. Drive mechanism for a textile machine having a yarn collecting beam, comprising rotary power means, a friction clutch element having an input side connected to said power means and n a variable speed output side in friction contact with said input side, variable pressure yieldable fluid actuated means effective upon said friction clutch element to urge said input and output sides together, regulating means for controlling the fiuid pressure of said variable pressure fluid means, a variable speed device driven by the output side of said friction clutch element, the output of the variable speed device being connected to drive the yarn collecting beam, cornpensating control means responsive to said friction clutch element for regulating the ratio of input speed to output speed in said variable speed device, and a re-setting indicator associated with said regulating means, whereby the yarn tension is correlated to the regulated fluid pressure and the regulating means may be reset to duplicate a yarn tension previously used.

2. Drive mechanism for a textile machine having a yarn collecting beam, comprising rotary power means, a friction clutch element having an input side connected to said power means and a variable speed output side in friction contact with said input side, variable pressure yieldable fluid means effective upon said friction clutch element to urge said input and output sides together, regulating means for controlling the fluid pressure of said variable pressure fluid m ans, a variable speed device driven by the out- I put side of said friction clutch element, the output of the variable speed device being connected to drive the yarn collecting beam, and a compensating control means whereof one side is operated from the input side of the friction clutch and. the other side is operated by the variable speed output side of the friction clutch, said compensating control. means being connected to said variable speed device to regulate it automatically to decrease the speed of the collecting beam compensatively with increase in the diameter of the yarn accumulation on the beam, and a re-setting indicator associated with said regulating means, whereby the yarn tension correlated to the regulated fluid pressure and the regulating means may be re-set to duplicate a yarn tension previously used.

3. In driving mechanism for a textile machine having a yarn collecting beam, a powered shaft; a variable speed transmission device having an input shaft, an output shaft and a regulating shaft; positive gear connections between the out put shaft of the variable speed device and the beam; gear connections, including a slip friction clutch having friction elements between the powered shaft and the input shaft of the variable speed device; pneumatic means effective upon the friction elements of t e clutch to engage and disengage said clutch; control means for regulating the effective pressure of said pneumatic means. on said friction elements; said control means including a re-setting indicator for duplicating a pressure previously used, differential unit automatically operated through connections respectively with the powered. shaft and with the input shaft of the variable speed device, for actuating the regulating shaft of the latter to decrease the speed of the beam compensatively with the increase in the diamete of the yarn accumulation on the beam and there" by maintain a uniform tension on the yarns, which tensionis correlated to the pressure indicated said ire-setting indicator.

4. in driving mechanism for a textile machine having a yarn collecting beam, power means, slip friction clutch means driven by said power means, said slip friction clutch having plates forming a variable side and a constant side, a double-acting pneumatic actuator connected to move said plates toward from one another to engage and disengage the clutch, a variable speed device through which said yarn collecting beam is driven from the variable side of said slip friction clutch means, the output of the variable speed device being connected directly to the yarn collecting beam without any intervening clutch mechanism, compensating speed control mechanism one side of which is operated from the constant side of the clutch means and the other side of which is operated from the variable of said clutch means, and geared clutch means for disconnecting said other side from said clutch means and maintaining it stationary.

5. Drive mechanism for a textile machine having a yarn collecting beam, comprising rotary power means, a friction clutch element having an input side connected to said power means and a variable speed output side in friction contact with said input side, variable pressure yieldable means effective upon said friction clutch element to urge said input and output together, regulating means for controlling the fluid pressure of said variable pressure means, a re-setting indicator associated with said regulating means to enable the fluid pressure to be "re-set to a value previously used, a variable speed device driven by the output side of said friction clutch element, the output of the variable speed device being connected dir ctly to the yarn collecting beam shaft without any intervening clutch, whereby the yarn tension is correlated to the regulated fluid pressure, compensating control mechanism the form of a differential gear unit connected to said variable speed device to control its output said differential gear unit having one side connected to the friction clutch output and another side connected through a toothed clutch element to a shaft driven directly by said rotary power means, and said. differential gear unit being connected to said variable speed device to control the speed ratio of output to input thereof.

6. In driving mechanism for a textile machine having a yarn collecting seam, a motor; a jack shaft geared to the motor; a variable speed transmission device with an input shaft, an output shaft a regulating shaft; positive gear con nections between the beam and the output shaft of the variable speed device; gear connections,

7v including a friction clutch, between the jack shaft and the input shaft of the variable speed device; said friction clutch including sets of alternately arranged friction discs; pneumatic pressure means efiective to urge said friction disc 'sets together; means for controlling the pneumatic pressure thus applied; a difierential gear unit for actuating the regulating shaft of the variable speed device; and gear connections respectively between the jack shaft and one side of the differential unit, and between the output shaft of the variable speed device and the other side of said unit, whereby the speed of the beam is decreased compensatively with increase in the diameter of the yarn accumulation on the beam, with maintenance of a uniform tension upon the yarns, said tension being correlated to the pneumatic pressure applied to the friction disc sets.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 779,806 Schumucker Jan. 10, 1905 2,142,544 Whitener Jan; 3, 1939 2,206,140 Van Derhoef July 2, 1940 2,521,413 Scheuermann et a1. Sept. 5, 1950 OTHER REFERENCES Advertisement appearing in Textile World,

July 1946 and Cotton August 1946--Automatic Tension Contro1-Reeves Pulley 00., Columbus, Indiana.

Reeves Automatic Production Control Booklet T-36l, page 3-Reeves Pulley 00., Columbus, Indiana. (Copies in Div. 61.) 

